31

When I was a lot younger, I thought reaching the age of 31 would be the end of the world. I actually dreaded not being able to see the number of my age on the calendar.

Today I turn 31, and I'm not a bit worried. In fact, I'm looking forward for more birthdays. My life right now might not be perfect, but there's little I want. I struggle at times, but I'm comfortable that most people my age. I have a loving husband and a very caring family. I have lots of people I can call true friends. My work gives me time to live my life fully without sacrificing my hard-earned title. Most of all, I have a God who makes me realize that He is bigger than any of my big plans.



Today I turn 31, and there's nothing to be afraid of. I turn 31 and I thank God for everything.

Balik sa Bohol Balik!

If there's one place in the country I've been dying to visit, it's the province of Bohol. Apart from Batanes of course, I've always dreamed of seeing the Chocolate Hills in person and of enjoying the beaches of the famous Panglao Island.I owe the trip to my brother in law Sat, who convinced Noy we should go. We celebrate our birthdays one week apart, and we felt April was the time of the year to go. So Noy volunteered to look for the cheapest possible travelling options, and in no time at all we were packing and lining up for a cab at EDSA Rotonda to the airport.We left on a Thursday morning.In the Cebu-bound plane I realized we should eat lechon there. Hello, Cebu? Why didn't I think of that before? Since we could only think of Ayala Center Cebu to spend 3 hours on the island, we went, by cab, luckily driven by a Tagalog-speaking guy.We found a lechon place up in the foodcourt.


At Php110 per plate, we felt it was normally priced. Too bad we didn't go for two plates. Sat and I liked it so much we went back to buy some more. Sadly though, there was almost none left. And it only had been 30 minutes since we bought! In disappointment we settled for the last plate of the ulo, which we had packed for dinner. For lunch we also ordered Sinabawang Mamsa, which was really really good I'd have a second serving if I weren't already full.Ayala Center Cebu was a feast for the greenery lover's eye. It had the serenity of Greenbelt but without the distracting disco music of, say, Havana, and the annoying chatter of middle class trying to sound soshyal. We were there on a weekday afternoon, though, so I can't generalize.


But for the three hours that we dipped our feet onto the city that is Cebu, I'd say they've got the best of both worlds here. The technology is undeniably up to date, heck, advanced even; but it's still too clean to be Manila-like. Of course there are areas saddened by poverty and such, but Cebu is such a lovely clean and organized place. I'd love to come back to try the beaches. I heard they've got beautiful ones there too.


The Cebu pier is so unlike Manila's. It's not crowded, the fishy odor is not so strong, the place is clean and well-kept. I haven't been to Manila pier lately, but Cebu's has decent dining places. I can tell by the menu on the board, the look and feel of each store. We settled for Dunkin' Donuts and water as we were still full from the lechon and fish. As we waited for our boat Sat took this sweet little shot as Noy and I admired the clean blue waters off Cebu pier.


The boat trip to Tagbilaran took two hours. As Noy nervously took his seat (we had a very bad experience with a large ship on a trip back home from Aklan) and watched Con Air onboard, I relished the memories I had when I was young and the only way we knew how to get to Aklan was by boat. I suddenly missed my parents as I watched the waves foam around the rim of the Supercat.


We were welcomed by Kuya Ador, Alona Studios' caretaker cum driver, at the Tagbilaran pier. His Starex was slightly beaten, but the airconditioning was good. It was indeed a long way from the airport to the resorts. Soo long that Noy felt dizzy from hunger at 8 pm. So we settled for a carinderia, tried everything they had grilled, ate our baon lechon ulo from Cebu, and felt sorry for ourselves for picking out a hotel that was too.far.away.from.the.beach.

Not for long though, because, on second look, our place is neat for its price. Alona Studios Apartment Hotel may look like a school from far away, but the large pool makes you think twice about not booking it next time you're in Bohol and on a budget.

The rooms and their bathrooms are spacious and clean. Since we stayed on the first floor, we had a lounging area at the front instead of a balcony. It was spacious and clean as well, perfect for stargazing at night, and for drying out the towels too. We had our own ref and kitchen, thankfully because we had to store the leftovers from our carinderia inihaw escapade. For Php 1500 (and Php 300 extra bed for Sat) it's quite a steal. I say the pool breaks the baduy vibes even. Without it the place would look like a retreat house or worse, a school. We had so much fun swimming after dinner I actually felt relaxed and energized at the same time.

The bed was a simple sturdy wooden frame with a comfortable mattress and a cool headlamp which doubles as mood lighting if you're not up to some bedtime reads. Or vice versa. We had no problems with the a/c.I could tell we all had a good night's sleep because we were up the next morning just in time for the tour.


A spacious 15-seater picked us up, along with five other guests from the other room, to show us Chocolate Hills already. The way to the hills was wonderfully long, with enchanting bridges and lots of old houses, churches and trees.To enjoy the hills one must go up the viewing deck (perched on top of one of the hills, we presume) via a steep set of stairs. Thankfully there were gazebos that served as stopover point for those who cannot handle the height in one go. We decided to go for the stairs halfway through, then the plant-lined walkway on the other side which is actually for those who are coming down, the rest of the way up. It was an intensely hot day that failed to stop the photoganids in us.

The driver stopped at Simply Butterflies off-schedule, but I figured it's mandatory for all visitors since it's a government-supported project (I think). There's an entrance fee of Php30, so it's not a big bother to the visitors but will be helpful to the advocacies of the project. Each group is assigned a tour guide, but there's really nothing much to see they're more of a butterfly life cycle guide. But since I'm a Biology major and have had enough of life cycles, I made our tour guide a photographer instead.


Before heading to Loboc River, we stopped at the Man-Made Forest. It's just a picture-perfect collection of towering mahogany trees lining both sides of the highway. It's enthralling just being inside the vehicle sticking my face to thw window in an effort to see the treetops. It's almost magical when you're beside an actual tree and wondering how many more are there deep into the woods.


Oh, and there's the Hanging Bridge. In reality these are two one-way bamboo bridges suspended on either bank of what must be Loboc River tributary with no other support in between, hence they hang. I honestly was not thrilled because I crossed a lot of bamboo bridges as a child vacationing in Aklan, a lot flimsier ones may I add. The green water beneath the bridges are a perk-me-up nevertheless. It's a refreshing treat for city dwellers who only see the murky Pasig River on a daily basis.


My favorite part of course involves food. A lot of people have experienced Loboc River cruise already, but more than the sumptuous food (Php 350 for lunch buffet and cruise per person), it's the historic depth of the area that tickles my fancy most. I sooo love the sight of the riverbanks beside the ancient Loboc Church. It's like a scene from Noli Me Tangere. It would have been much better hearing the Loboc Children's Choir perform.Not to disappoint, Loboc River really isn't THAT different from the other rivers I've seen in the Philippines. It roughly resembles the irigasyon beside my grandmother's house in Aklan where we crossed flimsy bamboo bridges, what with houses along its banks and patches of not so pretty grass overgrowth. But Loboc River definitely has its own charm, with micro-falls at the end (or was it the start?) and some thick mysterious canopies.
Also, it's only in Loboc River where one finds a balsa doubling as a stage for local performers. I mean local here as truly local. They are members of the community aged 3 to 103 tapped by the local government to spruce up the river cruise some more.

Dressed in bright yellow native garb, the men make the music and the women sing. There's a group of dancers, one of them a really old Lolo, who do a mean Tinikling. The little girls are endearing in their little dance number. The entire performance repeats for each cruise boat that arrives.




Dessert was very interesting ice cream called Buzz, sold at The Buzz Cafe on the parking area for Loboc River cruisers. It's 100% homemade with very original flavors like spicy ginger, durian and tisa. At Php 80 for two large tightly-packed scoops served in an uber crispy homemade cassava cone, it's a wonderfully discovered treasure. I went for the classics - chocolate and mango. Noy my adventurer husband had malunggay and lemongrass. I'm partial to lemongrass being exclusive to my favorite Aklanon dish Chicken Binakol only, so I didn't enjoy it very much despite its having just a hint of flavor. The malunggay ice cream however, was a surprising winner. The malunggay flavor seems to be so well blended like those little flecks of green on a bed of very milky base. I liked it very much I had regrets.


We were barely done with our ice cream when we were told we're in the tarsier place already. Tarsier! One of my dream sights! And touches. It was prohibited to touch them, but the girl I was adoring the tarsier with coerced me into doing so... Okay, I can't help it too. They're soooo cute and cuddly I wanted to grab one that easily fit on my closed fist.


Last stop is at Baclayon Church, the second oldest stone church in the Philippines and the most famous church in Bohol. This is another dream destination of mine. Since the entrance to the church and its museum isn't readily obvious I initially thought we couldn't come inside. We found the entrance, but I really wouldn't have come inside if not for the mandatory blue shawl for the skin-baring visitors like me. And anyone with nothing to cover their kili-kili.


The church is breathtaking.


What better way to cap the day than with a late afternoon swim and beach-side dinner?


As I floated on the cool salty water while the sunset rays kissed my cheeks, I thanked God for the wonderful experience of nature's bounty, and the capacity to do it. Not everyone can simply sneak out of work and buy airline tickets on a whim to go on a mini-vacation.


A Bohol vacation is expensive with only two travel companions. It's best to bring a lot of friends to split the bill with. So when I make Balik sa Bohol, I'd have more reasons to make Balik.